Appropriate

That's a word that Audrey loves to use. Well, "unappropriate" is the one she really likes. When Emma does something wrong like burping at the dinner table or chewing with her mouth open, Audrey loves to tell her it's "unappropriate."

I think she got it from me. Not the un- part (I actually say "inappropriate"), but the idea that there's an appropriate way to behave, act, and speak.

She came instantly to mind the yesterday morning when I began reading Psalm 33, the psalm selected for this week in my prayer book that I use in my quiet time. Here's what caught my eye:

Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; 

it is fitting for the upright to praise him. (Psalm 33:1)

I see "fitting" and think appropriate. (And I also have some vague memory of some line in a movie or a book or something: It just ain't fittin'. Seems like something Millie would say in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers when she yells at Adam for kidnapping the town girls and hauling them up to the back country with his brothers.)

And though the word "fitting" in Hebrew means comely, beautiful, seemly--appropriate works too.

It's right for us to praise him. It makes sense for the upright to praise him. It's appropriate for God's people to be people of praise.

It's the way it should be.

So far, so good. (I'm going to try to get this down in a way that makes sense, but I did not get nearly enough sleep last night and I'm having a hard time being clear!)

Then I turned to Matthew 12 for the daily reading and came across this:

But I tell you that me will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. 

(Matthew 12:36-37)

AHHH!

I've had a careless word kind of a week. And it's only 6:14 on Tuesday morning. I have to admit I cringed when I read this and had to stop and ask God--again--to set a guard over my mouth, to wash my mouth clean, to fill my mouth with his words, to help me remember that whole "quick, slow, slow" thing he showed me a while ago.

Do I speak more acquitting kinds of words--words on the plus side--or more careless words--words on the negative side?

It seems to me that this is why it is good to pray aloud, good to praise aloud--to speak intentional, thoughtful, praising words that outweigh the careless ones.

When we speak appropriately, when praise is the normal kind of speech for us, there's not as much room for those careless kinds of words.

Now I know that God is not keeping a tally sheet to condemn us, with marks in neat columns marked "Aquitting Words" and "Careless Words." But I do know that I want the good to outweigh the bad. 

Not to earn God's love or approval or my salvation. But because careless speech isn't appropriate for God's people. Rather, as his people, it is appropriate for our speech to be characterized by praise. 

"It is [fitting, comely, beautiful, seemly] for the upright to praise him."

Comments

[Melissa @ Breath of Life]

"Appropriate" must be one of my favorite words, because my girl has recently taken to telling me about things that aren't appropriate. I gather I use that phrase more than I realize.

You're so right, that when we focus on praising Him it's hard to find time to speak things that aren't appropriate or fitting.

P.S. - "It just ain't fitting" is from Gone with the Wind. Mammy said it...but I don't remember the scene.

[misschris]

oh, I needed this reminder today. Thanks, dearie.

[Susan]

One of the most awesome things of doing the same devotions on the same days is verification that I am "right on" with what I am supposed to get from it. I, too, focused on the same exact thing this morning. In fact, my prayer this entire week has been that He puts a guard on my mouth AND heart so that the only things I speak, or even THINK are words that are encouraging, lovely, fruitful, praising, and braggin' on Him.

Anything else...ZIP IT, SUSAN!